Faculty Bibliography

Study Design/UNASSIGNED:Retrospective cohort study. Purpose/UNASSIGNED:To describe our experience in the management and outcomes of vertebral column osteomyelitis (VCO), particularly focusing on the risk factors of early and late mortality. Overview of Literature/UNASSIGNED:Previous reports suggest a global increase in spinal column infections highlighting significant morbidity and mortality. To date, there have been no reports from our local population, and no previous report has assessed the potential relationship of frailty with mortality in a cohort of patients with VCO. Methods/UNASSIGNED:We reviewed 76 consecutive patients with VCO between 2009 and 2016 in Waikato Hospital, New Zealand. Demographic, clinical, microbiological, and treatment data were collected. Comorbidities were noted to calculate the modified Frailty Index (mFI). Mortality at 30 days and 1 year was recorded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the predictors of mortality. Results/UNASSIGNED:The mean age of patients was 64.1 years, with 77.6% being male. Most patients presented with axial back pain (71.1%), with the lumbar spine most commonly affected (46%). A mean of 2.1 vertebral bodies was involved. Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism of infection (35.5%), and 15.8% of patients exhibited polymicrobial infection. Twenty patients (26.3%) underwent surgical intervention, which was more likely in patients with concomitant spinal epidural abscess (odds ratio [OR], 4.88) or spondylodiscitis (OR, 3.81). Mortality rate was 5.2% at 30 days and 22.3% at 1 year. The presence of frailty (OR, 13.62) and chronic renal failure (OR, 13.40) elevated the 30-day mortality risk only in univariate analysis. An increase in age (OR, 1.07) and the number of vertebral levels (OR, 2.30) elevated the 1-year mortality risk in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Conclusions/UNASSIGNED:Although the mFI correlated with 30-day mortality in univariate analysis, it was not a significant predictor in multivariate analysis. An increase in age and the number of levels involved elevated the 1-year mortality risk.

Sacroiliac (SI) joint can produce debilitating lower back pain with radiation to groin, buttocks, and lower extremities. SI joint dysfunction poses a clinical challenge to the spine surgeons. Studies entailing surgical arthrodesis utilizing Titanium implants have been reported with reputedly high level of patient satisfaction. Authors have described technical aspects of surgical technique with use of titanium screw implants. The transarticular technique is used to places SI joint screw implants across the articular portion of SI joint. Cadaveric SI joint instrumentation is performed under fluoroscopic guidance. Moreover, Medline literature search is conducted to study surgical outcome, and patient satisfaction. 4 cadavers are prepped prone for the percutaneous approach. Bilaterally 6 screws are placed using transarticular placement technique under fluoroscopic guidance. The posterior technique utilizes alignment guide to place the screws inline on the inlet view, parallel in the outlet view, and parallel to the dorsal aspect of the sacral body in the lateral view. One C-arm is used in the entire technique. The technical aspects of surgical technique have been described in a stepwise fashion for easy reproducibility in the operating room. Each screw track is checked with tactile feel of a blunt K-wire before final deployment. All bilateral screws were checked on a set of fluoroscopic views. A detail clinical examination, diagnostic joint injection, with the radiological imaging must be considered before surgical consideration. SI Joint fusion utilizing 3 transarticular sacral screws is equally effective and safe procedure to treat chronic lower back pain ensuing from SI joint dysfunction.

The Clavien-Dindo grading allows for broad comparison of perioperative surgical complications, and a temporal analysis of complications following ASD-corrective surgery. NSQIP database was utilized from 2010 to 2014 to isolate patients. Complications were stratified by Clavien complication (Cc) grade, and patients grouped by highest Cc grade: I, II, III, IV, V. Secondary analysis grouped by minor (I, II, III) and severe (IV, V). Comorbidity burden was assessed with a NSQIP-modified Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and frailty was measured with a 5-factor modified frailty index (mFI). From 2010 to 2014, 2971 patients (57 yrs, 58% F) underwent surgery for ASD (3.4 ± 4.1 levels; surgical approach: 46% anterior, 44% posterior, 10% combined), the rate of which increased 0.01% to 0.13. 32% suffered >1 complication. Patient breakdown by Cc grade: 0% I, 25% II, 3% III, 4% IV, 1% V. Severe Cc patients were more comorbid than minor Cc (CCI 2.8 vs 1.8), had longer operative times (394 min vs 251), and higher rates of osteotomy (29% vs 13%) and iliac fixation (16% vs 5%). Overall CCI (2.1-1.7) and perioperative complication rates (55-29%) decreased, despite increasing surgical invasiveness (2.8-4.5) and increasing frailty score (0.14 ± 0.15 vs 0.16 ± 0.16). Rates of Clavien grade II (39.80-22.20%) and IV (9.40-3.50%) complications also decreased, indicative of surgical improvements and effective preoperative patient selection. The decrease in CCI and increase in the modified frailty score may show that we are becoming more cognizant of discerning of comorbidities, but likely to not to have taken into account frailty, which may have an impact on future health socioeconomics.

STUDY DESIGN:Retrospective review from a single institution. OBJECTIVES:To evaluate intraoperative T1-pelvic angle (TPA), T4PA, and T9PA as predictors of postoperative global alignment after adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA:Malalignment following adult spinal surgery is associated with disability and correlates with health-related quality of life. Preoperative planning and intraoperative verification are crucial for optimal postoperative outcomes. Currently, only pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis (PI-LL) mismatch has been used to assess intraoperative correction. METHODS:Patients undergoing ≥4-level spinal fusion with full-length pre-, intra-, and first postoperative calibrated radiographs were included from a single institution. Alignment measurements were obtained for sagittal vertical axis (SVA), PI-LL, TPA, T4PA, and T9PA. The whole cohort was divided into upper thoracic (UT: UIV > T7) and lower thoracic fusions (LT: UIV < T7). Change was assessed between phases, and a subanalysis was included for UT and LT groups to compare alignment changes for differing extent of proximal fusion in the sagittal plane. RESULTS:Eighty patients (mean 63.4 years, 70% female, mean levels fused 11.9) underwent significant ASD correction (ΔPI-LL = 22.1°; ΔTPA = 13.8°). For all, intraoperative TPA, T4PA, and T9PA correlated with postoperative SVA (range, r = 0.41-0.59), whereas intraoperative PI-LL correlated less (r = 0.38). For UT (n = 49), all spinopelvic angles and LL were similar intraoperative to postoperatively (p > .09). For LT (n = 31), intraoperative and postoperative T9PA and LL were similar (p > .10) but TPA and T4PA differed (p < .02). For UT, all intraoperative and postoperative spinopelvic angles strongly correlated (r = 0.8-0.9). For LT, intraoperative to postoperative T9PA strongly correlated (r = 0.83) and TPA, T4PA, and LL correlated moderately (r = 0.65-0.70). LT trended toward more reciprocal kyphosis postoperatively (8.1° vs. 2.6°; p = .059). CONCLUSIONS:Intraoperative measurements of TPA, T4PA, and T9PA correlated better with postoperative global alignment than PI-LL, demonstrating their utility in confirming alignment goals. When comparing intraoperative to postoperative films, only T9PA was similar in LT whereas all spinopelvic angles were similar in UT. Reciprocal kyphosis in unfused segments of LT fusions may account for difference in TPA and T4PA from intraoperative to postoperative films. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:Level III.

STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:A retrospective review of a prospective, multicenter adult spinal deformity (ASD) database. OBJECTIVE:Our objective was to quantify the change in disability reported for patients with radiculopathy as compared with patients with back pain only following ASD realignment surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA/BACKGROUND:Studies utilizing patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have shown that ASD patients suffer from significant pain and disability. Although surgical correction has been effective at improving back and leg pain, no studies have investigated the impact of radiculopathy on pain and disability in ASD patients. METHODS:Inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18 years and presence of spinal deformity as defined by coronal Cobb angle ≥ 20°, sagittal vertical axis (SVA) ≥ 5 cm, pelvic tilt (PT) angle ≥ 25°, or thoracic kyphosis (TK) angle ≥ 60°. Demographics and PRO were collected. Patients with radiculopathy were propensity matched with patients with back pain. Preoperative, postoperative, and 2-year follow-up radiographic parameters and PRO were analyzed. RESULTS:Three hundred twenty-four patients met inclusion criteria, and following propensity matching, 90 patients were placed into the radiculopathy and back pain groups. These groups showed no difference in demographic or radiographic parameters. The groups were similar in PRO, with a difference in leg pain as per design. At baseline, leg pain patients had higher disability [Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)]. Surgical strategies between the two groups showed no differences. Postoperative radiographic parameters showed no difference. Despite a significantly greater decrease in numerical rating scale (NRS) Leg for the leg pain group, postoperatively, these patients remained more disabled than the nonleg group in terms of NRS (back and leg), ODI, and most of the SRS domains. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:ASD patients with radiculopathy exhibit increased pain and disability when compared with patients without leg pain. This increased pain and disability persists after surgical correction in these patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:3.

STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:Retrospective review OBJECTIVE.: Develop a simplified frailty index for CD patients SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.: To improve preoperative risk stratification for surgical cervical deformity (CD) patients, a CD frailty index (CD-FI) incorporating 40 health deficits was developed. While novel, the CD-FI is clinically impractical due to the large number of factors needed for its calculation. To increase clinical utility, a simpler, modified CD-FI (mCD-FI) is necessary. METHODS:CD patients (C2-C7 Cobb>10°, CL>10°, cSVA>4 cm, or CBVA>25°) >18yr with preoperative CD-FI component factors. Pearson bivariate correlation assessed relationships between component deficits of the CD-FI and overall CD-FI score. Top deficits contributing to CD-FI score were included in multiple stepwise regression models. Deficits from model with largest R were dichotomized, and the mean score of all deficits calculated, resulting in mCD-FI score from 0 to 1. Patients were stratified by mCD-FI: Not Frail (NF, <0.3), Frail (0.3-0.5), Severely Frail (SF, >0.5). Means comparison tests established correlations between frailty category and clinical outcomes. RESULTS:Included: 121 CD patients (61 ± 11yr, 60%F). Multiple stepwise regression models identified 15 deficits as responsible for 86% of the variation in CD-FI; these factors were used to construct the mCD-FI. Overall, mean mCD-FI was 0.31 ± 0.14. Breakdown of patients by mCD-FI category: NF: 47.9%, Frail: 46.3%, SF: 5.8%. Compared to NF and Frail, SF patients had the longest inpatient hospital stays (P = 0.042), as well as greater baseline neck pain (P = 0.033), inferior NDI scores (P<0.001) and inferior EQ-5D scores (P < 0.001). Frail patients had higher odds of superficial infection (OR:1.1[1.0-1.2]), and SF patients had increased odds of mortality (OR:8.3[1.3-53.9]). CONCLUSIONS:Increased frailty, assessed by mCD-FI, correlated with increased length of stay, neck pain, and decreased health-related quality of life. Frail patients were at greater risk for infection, and severely frail patients had greater odds of mortality. This relationship between frailty and clinical outcomes suggests that mCD-FI offers clinical utility as a preoperative risk stratification tool. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:3.

OBJECTIVE:We sought to compare timing of intervention for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) requiring surgical procedures during weekend versus weekday admissions. METHODS:The National Inpatient Sample database from 2012 to 2014 was queried to identify patients with SCI who underwent surgical treatment (decompression with or without stabilization) as an emergent/urgent procedure. Timing of intervention, inpatient morbidity, and inpatient mortality were compared between patients admitted during the weekend versus a weekday. Multiple logistic regression analyses were also performed. RESULTS:A total of 9390 patients were identified (mean age 55 years, 73.2% male) from the database, with 34.1% admitted during the weekend and 65.9% during a weekday. The average day of intervention for the entire cohort was 2.8 (SD 3.9, interquartile range 1-4); day 2.7 (standard deviation [SD] 4.0) versus day 2.8 ([SD] 3.9) for patients admitted in a weekend versus weekday (P = 0.418). After controlling for patient age, sex, and injury severity score on multiple logistic regression analysis, weekend admission was not significantly associated with early intervention (odds ratio [OR] 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82-1.21; P = 0.993), complication occurrence (OR 1.09; 95% CI, 0.86-1.38; P = 0.476), or inpatient mortality (OR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.44-1.56; P = 0.563). Patients with complete/American Spinal Injury Association A injuries were more likely to undergo early intervention (OR 2.09; 95% CI, 1.31-3.31; P = 0.002). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:In this national study, patients with SCI who were admitted during the weekend received surgical intervention as early as patients admitted during a weekday. Furthermore, no differences in complication or mortality rates between groups were found.

Patient-specific rods designed based on a particular pre-operative plan are a recent advancement to help achieve desired operative alignment goals. This study investigated the role of pre-operative planning and patient-specific rods on post-operative alignment and outcomes. Patients were grouped according to use of pre-operative planning and patient-specific, pre-contoured rods (PLAN) or absence of planning/rods (NON). Pre-operative and post-operative alignment were measured: cervical sagittal vertical axis (cSVA), cervical lordosis (CL), T1 Slope minus CL (TS-CL). Alignment differences between the groups were assessed using independent and paired samples t-tests. 34 patients were identified (15 PLAN, 19 NON). Pre- and post-operative CL, cSVA and TS were similar between the two groups (p > 0.05), though pre-operative TS-CL was slightly higher in PLAN patients (28.13° versus 18.42°, p = 0.049). There were no improvement differences pre- to post-operative for CL, cSVA and TS between the groups (p > 0.05). However, PLAN patients exhibited a greater correction of TS-CL, with an average of 5.8° decrease versus a 3.5° increase in TS-CL for NON patients (p = 0.015). PLAN patients did not demonstrate a significant change from pre- to post-operative alignment for cSVA or TS-CL (cSVA: 27.5 mm to 31.1 mm, p = 0.255; TS-CL: 28.1° to 22.3°, p = 0.13), though their TS-CL did trend towards significant post-operative improvement. In contrast, NON patients worsened in cSVA and TS-CL post-operatively (cSVA: 21.8 mm to 30.3 mm, p < 0.001; TS-CL: 18.4° to 22.0°, p = 0.035). Multi-segment posterior decompression and fusion patients have the potential to worsen with regards to post-operative alignment without pre-operative planning. Patients with pre-contoured rods and pre-operative planning exhibited a greater correction of TS-CL after surgery than un-planned cases, though limited by the pre-operative difference in cervical-thoracic mismatch between planned and unplanned cases.

Introduction/UNASSIGNED:This study assessed the incidence and risk factors for pseudarthrosis among primary spine fusion patients. Methods/UNASSIGNED:-tests. Binary logistic regression assessed patient-related and procedure-related predictors for pseudarthrosis. Results/UNASSIGNED:=0.026). Conclusions/UNASSIGNED:Alcoholism and surgical revision are major risk factors for pseudarthrosis in patients undergoing spine fusion.

Background/UNASSIGNED:The study aimed to characterize trends in incidence, etiology, fracture types, surgical procedures, complications, and concurrent injuries associated with traumatic pediatric cervical fracture using a nationwide database. Methods/UNASSIGNED:< .05. Results/UNASSIGNED:< .001). Conclusions/UNASSIGNED:Since 2003, incidence, complications, concurrent injuries, and fusions have increased. CCI, SCI, falls, and sports injuries were significant predictors of surgical intervention. Decreased mortality and SCI rates may indicate improving emergency medical services and management guidelines. Level of Evidence/UNASSIGNED:III. Clinical Relevance/UNASSIGNED:Clinicians should be aware of increased case complexity in the onset of added perioperative complications and concurrent injuries. Cervical fractures resultant of sports injuries should be scrutinized for concurrent SCIs.